The Life of William Shakespear
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, in April of 1564, William Shakespeare was born to Mary and John Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire (Martin 16). The precise date of William's birth is not known because the Stratford records note baptisms, not births, and funerals, not deaths (Kay 13). However, children were normally baptized on the 3rd day after birth, which would make April 23 his birthday (Levi 2). William was Mary and John's third child. During the second half of 1564, the plague broke out. Some 200 people out of a population of 6 or 7 times that number perished (Kay 13). "William was very fortunate to have survived" (Martin 16). William attended a grammar school in Stratford. This school was free, and the school days were long, beginning and ending with prayers. The new generation of English poets all went to grammar schools of this kind, though some went to universities at the age of 15 (Levi 29). William had the privilege of seeing his very first play when he was only four years old (Chute 11). William's father took him away from school during hard times when the family was in need of money, so that he could work for a little extra income. William's father
Between 1590 and 1603, Shakespeare wrote approximately 26 plays. This represents well over half of his complete work, and brings him to the verge of his greatest achievements (Grose 11). Shakespeare made his living among players (Levi 53). His first association with theatre had been that of an actor (Bentley 88). He continued acting while he wrote, however, he was well known for his writing, not acting (Levi 189). For the greater part of his career, Shakespeare wrote for one group of actors, and for it he created about 30 plays, half of them to be given in one theatre (Grose 34). He wrote many plays, which include several that were and now are well known, such as Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar, Othello, and Macbeth (Grose 13). "One of the reasons for Shakespeare's greatness, is the immense range of his world, from lightest comedy, to profoundest tragedy" (Grose 98). New printings of Shakespeare's plays are now more frequently issued and widely distributed than ever before (Bentley 212). Although William's great works were written long ago, many of them continue to inspire those who are so fortunate to experience them today.
Some topics in this essay:
Mary John's,
II's Restoration,
Laneman's Curtain,
Church Martin,
Stratford Martin,
Warwickshire Martin,
Anne Hathaway,
Judith January,
John Shakespeare,
Macbeth Grose,
april 23,
martin 16,
shakespeare wrote,
kay 13,
william's father,
william shakespeare,
martin 91,
john shakespeare,
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Approximate Word count = 833
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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